Rangers voice disquiet over SPL away days in fixture list

THE Scottish Premier League fixture list for the new season was announced yesterday, and there was almost immediate disquiet from one club at least.

Reigning champions Rangers will face away matches after five of their six Champions League fixtures, something which was noted on the club's official website yesterday morning. After five of the Ibrox side's six Champions League group games they have been handed away SPL fixtures – against Hearts, Celtic, St Mirren, Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The only home date comes after Champions League matchday one on 18 September, when Walter Smith's side entertain Dundee United.

Rangers will unfurl the title flag before a home match with Kilmarnock on the weekend of 14 August, while new Celtic manager Neil Lennon kicks off with an awkward trip to newly promoted Inverness. Hibernian travel to face Motherwell, with whom they shared 12 goals in the penultimate fixture of last season. Hearts will meet St Johnstone on the opening weekend, while Dundee United, who finished third last season, are away at St Mirren. Aberdeen host Hamilton Accies at Pittodrie.

Despite the stated issue with Rangers' post-Champions League schedule, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster described the clubs as being "broadly happy" with the fixture list. The New Year derby matches have been retained. Rangers face Celtic on New Year's day for the first time since 1994. This season's New Year Old Firm clash falls the day before the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, To accommodate the wishes of live television, the match could yet be switched to this poignant anniversary date.

Hearts and Hibs are scheduled to face up to each other in the Edinburgh derby on 1 January as well, with Jim Jefferies' side the hosts. Again this is subject to change due to television.

The SPL faced several complaints in April from clubs unhappy with its post-split fixtures. The system of splitting the league into two will remain in place for this season at least.

"I think people are broadly happy with the fixtures and that's to be expected, frankly, because clubs have had a lot of input into what they want to see and what they don't want to see," said Doncaster. "We've been able to reflect that with the help of our partners, Optimal Planning Solutions, who have helped us put the fixtures together.

Clubs have asked for certain requirements to be met and we've been able to meet them."